For this week’s article I thought I’d share a little bit about a topic that a friend and I have been discussing a lot lately: Stereotype Threat.

An article published in The Atlantic, written by Claude M. Steele, defines stereotype threat as “the threat of being viewed through the lens of a negative stereotype, or the fear of doing something that would inadvertently confirm that stereotype”.

I believe stereotype threat is something that affects everyone whether they are aware of it or not. We have all grown up with certain assumptions of who we should be based off of what we look like or where we come from.

One example could be a girl about to begin a math exam, where aside from the common nervousness that everyone is experiencing due to the fact that they’re being tested, she is also dealing with anxiety that if she does not perform well on the exam, she will be contributing to the prevailing stereotype that women are not as good in math and science subjects as men.

Sometimes this stereotype threat can cause people to doubt themselves and internalize these assumptions, which in turn results in detrimental impacts on every day and academic performances. Other times, the fear of falling into those stereotypes and confirming them is a driving force for people to do everything they can to avoid them. This too, however, can have negative impacts because it instills anxiety and extra stress. In academic settings, students with this approach to stereotype threat might double check their answers or their work to a level that is unnecessary and unreasonable.

This concept of stereotype threat is one that I had not been exposed to until very recently, despite the fact that I’ve had dealt with its internal implications for most of my life. I am sure many others will find that this applies to them as well. I am still learning about this concept, and it something that I wish to continue to explore. I encourage everyone to think about the ways in which stereotypes impact them and to learn and read more about this fascinating concept.